坤 → 臨
Hexagram 2: The Receptive → Hexagram 19: Approach
Changing Lines
This transformation involves 2 changing lines (lines 1, 2).
Line 1
初六 履霜堅冰至。
Six at the beginning means: When there is hoarfrost underfoot, Solid ice is not far off.
Line 2
六二 直方大。不習无不利。
Six in the second place means: Straight, square, great. Without purpose, Yet nothing remains unfurthered.
Trigram Changes
Yilin Verse
白龍赤虎，戰鬭俱怒。蚩尤敗走，死於魚口。
White dragon, red tiger; battling together in fury. Chiyou is routed and flees, dying at Yukou.
— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE
Commentary
Earth upon earth yields to earth above the lake — Approach. A white dragon and a red tiger clash in furious battle. Chi You is routed and dies at Fish Mouth. Chi You, the bronze-headed war god, was defeated by the Yellow Emperor at the Battle of Zhuolu — one of the foundational battles of Chinese civilization. The white dragon and red tiger may represent the cosmic forces marshaled by the Yellow Emperor. Approach (Lin) depicts the lake beneath the earth — two yang lines rising from below, the image of authority drawing near. From the Receptive to Approach, the earth's passive ground becomes the arena where sovereign power advances decisively. Chi You's defeat marks the moment legitimate authority approaches and prevails over chaotic martial force.
The Six Lines app includes all 4,096 Yilin verses, each with original ink brush artwork and full commentary. Download on the App Store